Florida (Please stick to Topic - Big Pics)

[motorbreath]

It must have been interesting to see that area when it was busy many years ago.

Since you are a native, some of this may interest you, or it may not. These guys have some amazing pics of the Tampa Bay area, but there are so many to dig through. There are a lot of rail related ones and familiar places from looooooooong ago.

http://www.lamartin.com/burgert/#The

 

[Isaacg]

It must have been interesting to see that area when it was busy many years ago.

Since you are a native, some of this may interest you, or it may not. These guys have some amazing pics of the Tampa Bay area, but there are so many to dig through. There are a lot of rail related ones and familiar places from looooooooong ago.

http://www.lamartin.com/burgert/#The

Yeah, especially when ACL/SCL ran the Champion down through there. It's unfortunate that the "flags fell", because I bet the area would still be teeming with traffic.

 

[motorbreath]

Man, I'm really digging this route. I'm already up to over 10 baseboards, so for now, there is no limit. I knew keeping it small wouldn't work. Currently, I'm still laying track and adding scenery in a purely random, yet realistic as possible manner. So that crap about me trying to use a track plan will have to wait also. I just can't do it yet. And Florida is to flat and the rails are too straight to try and make a small layout. Oh well. I am having a blast with the scrubby semi drought type scenery, and I had to run the Juice over it...

 

[matruck]

Looks good Jimi,I'd run any of your routes from what i've seen mate.No matter what state they are supposed to represent,Keep the pics coming.
Cheers Mick.:wave:

 

[motorbreath]

Thanks, Mick. This is the first time I have specified a state. Usually I just say eastern US or something. I'm naming specific towns or counties, but there is a lot of Central Florida that looks like what I'm doing now, and I'm working on selecting some greenery for a swampier area.

 

[motorbreath]

I found a CSX hopper that's not too bad for a phosphate (dry rock) car for now. I added RRMod's gray ASF trucks. Just wish it had brake hoses.

So here is one of the main reason I am building this route:

Bone Valley phosphate trains:

 

[backyard]

Thinking alike...

Hello Motorbreath, I have a DEM with a topo overlay for the Lakeland area, including all of Bone Valley from Mulberry east to Bartow, south past Ft. Meade, Nicoles, IMC New Wales, Winston, Saddle Creek up to the MacIntosh loop(including a kit-bashed unload trestle 1200ft long).

The route presently runs from Lake Wales on the A-Line to just past Winston. The Ft. Myers sub down to Bartow, etc.

The route is very accurate, you can see the overpass embankments, including at MacIntosh.

The grade around Lakeland, FL is uphill, at 200ft above sea-level, presenting an operation challenge from 5 directions.

My plan is to include from east Plant City west to the Gulf of Mexico, down to Bradenton. The route presently would converge at Stokes & run up to Wildwood...

I currently have all the track, switches, signals for mainline running, no yards yet...basically all the mainline running in West Polk County.

I have tons of projects, so this is a hit or miss in the "daily work orders."

But I can still run a coal train to LAKX & unload, returning north.

What are your thoughts about using this map?

 

[motorbreath]

I'm game. Guess I need to see it, and then decide. If you want it to be a joint effort, I do go nuts with vegetation, but that is obvious.

 

[backyard]

...I think this is 'cute'...

...we now have layers...!:wave:

I can give a Rabit-or-turtle-share file link...I'm on the take now so it's a free -upload at about or over 200mb.

You can create all your work using layers & we'll figure out how to use the data as we wish...if the layers have a separate kuid...

My claim to fame would be the coal unloader at Lake Parker in the Combee area. I'd recommend downloading the assets for that layer...it worked out pretty well.

 

[motorbreath]

PM me or email me if you would please.

 

[backyard]

...audio...

I just pm'd you, I need a little time to package the route.

Sponsored by ATCS Monitor server, we have the Greater Auburndale, Florida Area.

The Plant City Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Plant City, Florida Area.

If your an ATCS Monitor member, you can configure an active dispatchers model board for real-time trainspotting using a scanner & a laptop...

 

[michael2541]

well, i'm attempting to make the TECO streetcar line in Tampa, but so far due to school and other events, no progress yet...
Mike

 

[Isaacg]

well, i'm attempting to make the TECO streetcar line in Tampa, but so far due to school and other events, no progress yet...
Mike

Haha I tried, every time I tried I ended up creating an unprototypical freelanced route!

 

[motorbreath]

well, i'm attempting to make the TECO streetcar line in Tampa, but so far due to school and other events, no progress yet...
Mike

I remember one of you guys had a thread about that. That would be one hell of a project.

Riverview, huh? You are right in my hometown area of Lithia, Brandon, Valrico, and Riverview. It's all merging together. There used to be woods between everything, now we are one big subdivision.

 

[brickbuilder711]

...we now have layers...!:wave:

I can give a Rabit-or-turtle-share file link...I'm on the take now so it's a free -upload at about or over 200mb.

You can create all your work using layers & we'll figure out how to use the data as we wish...if the layers have a separate kuid...

My claim to fame would be the coal unloader at Lake Parker in the Combee area. I'd recommend downloading the assets for that layer...it worked out pretty well.

I would like to check it out, please... I've been wishing to make such operating runs possible.

 

[ish6]

Okay, you asked for it! :hehe:

I love Florida(native from Clearwater here)! Anyways, here's my screenshots. Most of the routes are freelanced(since I can't be trusted with reliability in terms of finishing off REAL routes because there's already a set start and finish point).

Excellent!!!!
Ish

 

[nicky9499]

Ish, at over 3000 posts you know better than to quote a dozen pictures just to say "excellent". My connection slows down considerably in the evening when everybody's online and you're not doing much to help.

Nicholas.

 

[Isaacg]

The last SCL train has finally arrived at the St. Petersburg SCL Depot, marking the end of an era for the Clearwater/St. Petersburg Sub. 10-15 years later, this station will never be the same. Tomorrow, Amtrak service finally takes over the system.

3 months after closure, a CSX duty trundles over 38th Av. North "viaduct", passing the once utilized St. Petersburg 31st Street Amtrak depot.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Awesome pics, Isaac! Is that the Fishlips Pinellas route? I might download it and make my own Clearwater Sub modern day with O701-2 working CYDX and St. Pete Times.

But before venturing out to the semi-promised land of West Central Florida and the Bone Valley, I keep it real down here in Miami.

It's Tuesday and I'm heading to South Miami to eat lunch at Chipotle off of US1 near 62nd Avenue. This move is awful unrealistic because I'm at school around noon and I usually eat there on Sunday evenings... But let's say it's June 15th.

O721 is on duty and waiting to depart from Hialeah Yard. So, I went and investigated a little on my potential spots to see the photo ops.

First, I go to Miller Drive. Miller is great for morning shots and that only, but the view is wide open.

Then, I went down Galloway to Snapper Creek Expwy to 88th Street... to find out that the exit is shut down due to a car fire.

Nonetheless, I get off at 107th Avenue, run north, and turn east on 88th to investigate. Good spot, I'd be back there later for O721.

 

[Isaacg]

Awesome pics, Isaac! Is that the Fishlips Pinellas route? I might download it and make my own Clearwater Sub modern day with O701-2 working CYDX and St. Pete Times.

That sounds good!!!

Continuing with our post-SAL/ACL/SCL nationalisation story, its the day after SCL finally discontinues service, and Amtrak kicks in full swing. Amtrak has actually repainted a few F7s already, and here they are seen arriving around 9.45AM, approaching the St. Petersburg 31st Street Amtrak Depot. At the moment, the passenger cars are still in their forerunner's paint colors, so this is a "rainbow" train.

We've finally arrived at the station, and a UAC TurboTrain is on demonstration here. After it's finished showing off down here, it will move up to Clearwater and finally over to Tampa before heading to Miami!